COVID-19: FirstBank set to solve education challenges facing parents
EHIME ALEX, Lagos
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced partnership with government and other stakeholders aimed at extending its attention to immediate needs in the society on account of the wide spreading COVID-19.
According to the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, in a statement on Wednesday, the partnership is meant to put in place complementary efforts in education to support students and minimize the disruption to education arising from closure of schools.
This follows activation of the bank’s Business Continuity Process and subsequent deployment of safety initiatives and measures implemented across its business outlets nationwide, to help flatten the curve and ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff customers and other stakeholders.
The bank is concerned that many parents are worried about their children and wards whose education is being truncated by the current crisis, and in particularly about keeping them at home idle as all schools from primary through to tertiary institutions are closed across the nation.
Thus, burdened with the urgent need to ensure that children are not disadvantaged, remain engaged and stay safe during this period, Adeduntan said the bank has concluded plans with relevant authorities to enable many children as possible access e-learning.
Adeduntan, who spoke further on the initiative to enable as many children move on to safe e-learning, said “we are warmed by the fact that different organizations have risen to the various challenges and are supporting in areas such as health and welfare, and we feel the peculiar needs of our children and youth must not be left out and have therefore elected to focus on contributing to solving the current education challenge. Education remains the bedrock of any society and we believe that when we educate our children we enable our nation and produce global citizens who provide ground breaking solutions for the continent and the world at large. So, building educational partnerships is an avenue to support our children to remain resourceful and fully engaged at this time so they can compete favorably with their peers internationally. It’s a responsible approach to empower them given that they are our future and the foundation to build our country to greatness. By partnering on this we are solving a problem for families and for our future.”
He disclosed that the bank is working with the States; United Nations Global Compact; innovative technology firms such as Robert & John to provide e-learning solution with the Government approved curriculum for students across the country.
He also revealed that the roll out exercise will begin first week in April with Lagos State, where FirstBank will support the roll out of Roducate which has been adjudged a best fit solution by educators, teachers and all necessary authorities.
He said that this solution has the full curriculum on both the online and offline versions with the offline version of particular interest as it eliminates the challenge posed by data affordability.
“We call on well-meaning organisations and individuals to join us and collectively rise to address the challenges this current pandemic presents to our children and youth and are reaching out to other organisations with complementary solutions to also partner on this initiative for the youth who are our future. They must not be lost in this pandemic,” the statement added.
For more information on how you can partner, please click on the link below:
https://www.firstbanknigeria.com/corporate-responsibility-sustainability/education-health-welfare/drive-to-move-one-million-students-to-e-learning/